Roberto: Boselli will get a chance

Wigan player Mauro Boselli

ROBERTO Martinez admits Mauro Boselli is hammering on his door for the chance to show what he can do in the Premier League.

The Argentine striker has struggled to settle at the DW since his big-money move from Estudiantes in the summer of 2010.

But three goals in his two starts this term – both in the Capital One Cup – plus an impressive hat-trick during a reserve run-out in the week prove he’s champing at the bit for a chance.

“Mauro is ensuring there is strong competition in the forward line,” Martinez told the Evening Post.

“Franco di Santo, Arouna Kone and Mauro are spurring each other on, which is helping them to even greater heights.

“But Mauro’s goalscoring ability is there for everyone to see.

“His attitude and his focus have been excellent since the day he came back.

“And I know he is desperate to score goals in the first team as and when he is required.”

After mustering only one goal – in the Carling Cup against Swansea – during his first spell with Latics, Boselli spent the next 18 months out on loan with Genoa in Serie A and then his old club Estudiantes back in Argentina.

But he returned to Wigan last summer – after becoming a father – raring to give it another go in the Premier League.

A flurry of goals in pre-season fuelled the optimism, although the player has since found first-team opportunities hard to come by.

He has shown glimpses of his talents in the League Cup, particularly with a brilliant brace against Saturday’s opponents West Ham last month in Wigan’s 4-1 victory at Upton Park.

And Martinez admits he has been impressed by the 27-year-old’s attitude in trying to play his way back into the side.

“Mauro has always been an excellent worker in training, and he is also someone who has been asking to play for the Under-21s to keep up his match sharpness,” the Wigan boss added.

“He has never once been forced to play, but he knows he needs that match intensity and the spacial awareness of those games to ensure he’s ready when he is called upon.

“That shows his attitude and his professionalism, and that he’s prepared to do whatever it takes for him to be at his best.

“It’s a great example for any youngster learning the game, and we all look forward to seeing Mauro back to his best this season.”

Martinez also admits Boselli’s brace against the Hammers earlier in the campaign will not harm his chances of featuring against Sam Allardyce’s charges this weekend.

“He obviously scored two goals at West Ham earlier in the season, and he showed that day how sharp he is when he’s given the chance,” Martinez added.

“That’s why he was the obvious choice to come on for the last 10 minutes at Swansea, to be in and around the 18-yard box.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t give him any meaningful service, but he is starting to put together a very strong case for